We know they are coming. Disasters happen, and we all hope it doesn’t happen to us.
We are all watching and holding our breath as Ukraine is under attack from Russia. We are also seeing some heroic groups and individuals helping to rescue the pets that are being left behind.
If you are looking to help support any of these organizations make sure you are donating to a reputable charitable institution. The last thing we need now is to be scammed. Let’s make sure our $$$ is going to help the pets. The NSPCA is the National Council of SPCAs. The NSPCA is in liaison with overseas colleagues to establish legitimate routes for donations to be provided in a manner that will benefit as many Ukrainian animal welfare shelters as possible and to ensure the money reaches the animals on the ground. Here is the link if you wish to help. https://nspca.co.za/donate/
In the US:
Typically, when we see these photos of pets being rescued after a disaster it tends to pull on our heartstrings. We all want to help but how?
To volunteer, we recommend contacting the local (near the disaster) Animal Control or Humane Society. Sometimes they are looking for volunteers to help walk and feed pets. Some shelters are overwhelmed and could be looking for fosters as well. This is also a great place to donate your hard-earned $$$.
There are some great animal rescue charities as well that help with pet disaster assistance. Best to make sure you check their mission statement and do a little research prior to sending money. Here are a few we have worked with or can recommend:
ASPCA The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.
NVADG North Valley Animal Disaster Group. Our mission is to help people during disasters by helping their animals. (West Coast Based)
Best Friends Animal Society The mission of Best Friends Animal Society is to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. We do this by helping end the killing in America’s animal shelters through building community programs and partnerships all across the nation. We believe that by working together we can Save Them All.
Humane Society Our Animal Rescue Team is prepared to answer the call for any large-scale emergencies, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, utility outages and more.
Red Rover Our mission is to bring animals out of crisis and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster-relief services, financial assistance, and education. We accomplish this by engaging volunteers and supporters, collaborating with others, and maximizing the use of online technology.
If you choose to donate, make sure it’s a reputable institution, for example, there are many apps out there that can help you raise money for all different causes. Most of the apps are good but some of the intentions of people using them are not. I would recommend if you don’t know the person asking for money then I would not donate to their cause.
Never leave your pets behind – Make a plan today.
